Mediterranean temporary waterbody
Quick facts
Red List habitat type | code RLC1.6b |
---|---|
Threat status | |
Europe | Vulnerable |
EU | Vulnerable |
Relation to |
|
Source | European Red List habitat factsheet |
European Red List of habitats reports | |
European Red List of habitats (Excel table) |
Summary
These are shallow to very shallow temporary pools, existing only in winter and early spring, and seasonally wet depressions, mostly oligotrophic, in the Mediterranean and warm Atlantic part of Europe, and in Northern Africa. They are colonised by pioneer ephemeral freshwater vegetation with above-ground growth visible for only a short part of the year, just 1-3 months. The predominant life forms are annual amphiphytes (Mediterranean spring annuals/therophytes), germinating in the aquatic phase and reproducing in the terrestrial ecophase, such as species of Juncus, Lythrum and Elatine or semi-terrestrial geophytes such as species of Isoetes and Serapias. Ephemeral vegetation types constituted by these plant species occur on water-saturated or submerged acidic sands or calcium rich soils, which completely dry out in spring. In some cases ephemeral vegetation is also developed in the flush habitats on rock outcrops, where seasonal surface runoff creates temporarily wet conditions in the patches of rock debris. The communities are classified in the order Isoetalia, covering the alliances Isoetion, Cicendion, Lythrion tribracteati, Preslion cervinae and Agrostion salmanticae. This habitat is very important for invertebrates (especially branchiopods and dragonflies) and amphibians (newt and frogs, like species of Triturus, Bufo, Rana and Hyla).
Indicators of quality:
• Distinct vegetation zonation related to the water level fluctuations
• Natural hydrological regime of the catchment with no significant hydrological impact by e.g. water extraction as indicated by pipes, dams, removal of soil/gravel and with conditions adequate for the survival and persistence of typical species
• High insolation of the habitat without excessive shading by scrub or forest vegetation
• Relative abundance of Mediterranean annual and geophytic species
• Substrate with no excessive disturbances (e.g. excessive trampling)
• Clear water with no eutrophication
• Absence of evidence(s) of primary or secondary succession (e.g. encroachment of shrubs, tall helophytes) and or floating species (pleuston)
• No garbage and waste dumping
• No impact of pesticides and pollutants
• Not significant presence of nitrophilous or ruderal species or invasive neophytes
Threat status
Synthesis of Red List assessment
EU | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Vulnerable | C/D1 |
Europe | |
Red List Category | Red List Criteria |
Vulnerable | C/D1 |
Confidence in the assessment
Pressures and threats
- Agriculture
- Cultivation
- Grazing
- Intensive grazing
- Transportation and service corridors
- Roads, paths and railroads
- Urbanisation, residential and commercial development
- Urbanised areas, human habitation
- Pollution
- Pollution to surface waters (limnic, terrestrial, marine & brackish)
- Pollution to groundwater (point sources and diffuse sources)
- Natural System modifications
- Human induced changes in hydraulic conditions
- Modification of hydrographic functioning, general
- Climate change
- Changes in abiotic conditions
- Droughts and less precipitations
Habitat restoration potential
Trends in extent |
|
Average current trend in quantity |
|
Decreasing ![]() |
Decreasing ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Trends in quality |
|
Average current trend in quality |
|
Decreasing ![]() |
Decreasing ![]() |
EU28 | EU28+ |
Conservation and management needs
List of conservation and management needs
- Measures related to agriculture and open habitats
- Maintaining grasslands and other open habitats
- Measures related to wetland, freshwater and coastal habitats
- Restoring/Improving water quality
- Restoring/Improving the hydrological regime
Distribution
Geographic occurrence and trends
EU28 | Present or presence uncertain | Current area of habitat (Km2) | Recent trend in quantity (last 50 years) | Recent trend in quality (last 50 years) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Italy mainland | Present | 23 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Sardinia | Present | 23 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Sicily | Present | 23 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Croatia | Present | 0.2 | Stable | Stable |
Cyprus | Present | 0.3 | Unknown | Stable |
France mainland | Present | 55 | Stable | Decreasing |
Corsica | Present | 55 | Stable | Decreasing |
Greece (mainland and other islands) | Present | 2 | Unknown | Stable |
Crete | Present | 2 | Unknown | Stable |
East Aegean | Present | 2 | Unknown | Stable |
Portugal mainland | Present | 9.8 | Unknown | Decreasing |
Spain mainland | Present | 130 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Balearic Islands | Present | 130 | Decreasing | Decreasing |
Malta | Uncertain | - | - | |
Portugal Azores | Present | 9.8 | Unknown | Decreasing |
EU28 + | Present or presence uncertain | Current area of habitat (Km2) | Recent trend in quantity (last 50 years) | Recent trend in quality (last 50 years) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Present | 3 | Unknown | Decreasing |
Extent of Occurrence, Area of Occupancy and habitat area
Extent of Occurrence (EOO) (Km2) | Area of Occupancy (AOO) | Current estimated Total Area | Comment | |
---|---|---|---|---|
EU28 | 5780900 | 1735 | 221 | Territorial data also show 108km2 for Portugal transfered from C1.6b |
EU28+ | 1737 | 224 |
EOO = the area (km2) of the envelope around all occurrences of a habitat (calculated by a minimum convex polygon).